Person in history
Rhoda Roberts
Rhoda Roberts, Australian arts executive (born 1959)
Life at a glance
- Died
- 2026 · March 21
Their story
Who they were
Rhoda Ann Roberts was an Australian theatre and arts director, arts executive, television presenter, and actress. She was head of Indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House from 2012 until 2021. She was also a highly respected Aboriginal elder, being afforded the title "Aunty". She introduced the term "Welcome to Country" in the 1980s, giving contemporary expression to an ancient custom, and originated the idea of performing the ceremony before significant cultural events,
Early life
Early life and education Rhoda Ann Roberts [ 1 ] was born in Canterbury Hospital in Sydney [ 2 ] [ 1 ] on 8 July 1959. [ 3 ] She was a Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul/Wiyebal clan on her father's side, [ 4 ] [ 5 ] and her totem was the lizard. [ 1 ] She had a twin sister, Lois Roberts , [ 6 ] and two brothers (Phillip and Mark); her parents also raised several cousins with them. [ 7 ] Her paternal grandfather, Frank Roberts ,
Path and career
Career Bindal Elder Uncle Alfred Smallwood performs the smoking ceremony at a Welcome to Country at Lavarack Barracks , Townsville, Queensland, 2021 Roberts was a co-founder of the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust (ANTT) with Brian Syron , Lydia Miller , and others, with Justine Saunders as adviser. The ANTT arose out of the First National Black Playwrights Conference and Workshop in Canberra, in 1987, becoming formally incorporated in 1988. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Second (1989 [ 3 ]
Why this date
Rhoda Roberts appears on our March 21 calendar for 2026 as a death entry.
Sources
Cite this page
“Rhoda Roberts”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/rhoda-roberts, accessed October 24, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about Rhoda Roberts
When did Rhoda Roberts die?
March 21 2026.
Who else was born on this day?
The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.
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